Wrapping apparatus

ABSTRACT

A pair of wrapping wings pivotally connected to a base for wrapping a blank about a mandrel, said wings being pivoted at a rate relative to the rate of movement of the base.

United States Patent Inventor Michael ll. Myers Kansas City, Mo.

Appl. No. 7,751

Filed Feb. 2, 1970 Patented Sept. 7, 197 l Assignee Phillips Petroleum Company Bartlsville, Okla.

WRAPPING APPARATUS 9 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

us. Cl 93/77 R, 93/59 CE, 93/59 ES, 93/84 TW Int. Cl B3lc 1/00, B3lb 1/52, B3lb 1/02 Field of Search 93/20, 77, 77 Fr,s|.1.s4Tw,94,s9cE,s9 ES [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 987,829 3/ i911 Schubert 2,095,775 10/1937 Von Hofe. 2,728,275 l2/l955 Berg 2,942,530 6/ l 960 Bodendoerfer..

3,4l6,4l2 12/1968 Wilcox Primary Examiner-Wayne A. Morse, Jr.

Attorney-Young and Quigg 93/8l 93/59 93/59 93/36.l 93/39.l

ABSTRACT: A pair of wrapping wings pivotally connected to a base for wrapping a blank about a mandrel, said wings being pivoted at a rate relative to the rate of movement of the base.

WRAPPING APPARATUS I This invention relates to an apparatus for wrapping blanks about-a mandrel. In another aspect, this invention relates to an apparatus for forming a container.

In heretofore utilized apparatus for wrapping blanks about a mandrel, the apparatus generally is moved in contact with the blank. This contacting sometimes damages the container blanks and other times causes the container blanks to move prior to sealing thereby causing a malformed container.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved wrapping apparatus. Anotherobject is to provide an apparatus that wraps a blank about a mandrel without portions of the wrapping apparatus moving across the surface of the blank. Yet another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus that wraps the blank about the mandrel with reduced pressure induced on the blank during wrapping operations. Other aspects, objects, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a study of the disclosure, the appended claims, and a drawing.

The drawings are diagrammatic plan and side views in partial section of the apparatus of this invention.

FIG. I shows the apparatus at the. first position, the blank and the mandrel,

FIG. 2 shows the apparatus at .the second position with the blank wrapped about the mandrel, and

FIG. '3 shows a side view of the apparatus at the second position.

Referring to FIG. I, a base 2 is shown adjacent a mandrel 4 that has been indexed into a position for receiving a blank 6. The blank 6 is fed into and maintained by a holding means 10 in a position between the base 2 and the mandrel 4. The base 2 t has a face 8 which has a configuration adapted to receive a portion of the mandrel 4. In this embodiment, the face 8 is constructed of circular configuration to receive, for example, a curved mandrel portion. It shouldbe understood that the configuration of the face 8 and the mandrel 4 can be of other shapes and configurations.

The base 2 is movable by a power source (not shown) between a first position, shown in FIG. 1, at which the face 8 is spaced from the mandrel 4 and an intervening blank 6 and a second position, better seen in FIG. 2, at which portions of the blank 6 and the mandrel 4 are within the face 8. In order to prevent undesirable vertical movement of the blank relative to the mandrel by the movement of the base stripping the blank from holding means 10, a holding element 11 contacts and urges the blank 6 against the mandrel 4 upon initiation of movement of the base 2 from the first toward the second posi tion and releases the blank 6 upon initiationof movement of the base 2 from the second toward the first position The construction of the holding element 11 can be of several forms such as, for example, a spring-loaded lateral protrusion fixedly attached to the base 2, a spring-loaded lever arm not attached to the base but triggered by movement of the base, or other construction known in the art for biasing one item toward another item.

First and second wings 12, 14 each have first and second end portions 16, 18 and each are pivotally attached to separate first and second end portions 20, 22 of the face 8 of the base 2. The wings 12, 14 are movable between a first position at which each wing 12, I4 is spaced from the mandrel 4 and the intervening blank 6 (shown in FIG. 1) and a second position (shown in FIG. 2) at which each wing 12, 14 is forcefully urging a portion of the blank 6 against a portion of the mandrel 4. Means are associated with the pivotally attached wings 12, 14 to move said wings between the first and second position at a rate relative and in response to movement of the base 2 between the first and second positions. An example of this moving means is a stationary rack gear or track 24 or guide extending, for example, along the direction of movement of the base 2 traveling on its pathway between the first and second positions. First and second rollers 26, 28 (as shown in FIG. 1) or pinion gears 27, 29 (as shown in FIG. 2)

are each fixedly attached at their axis to a first end portion 16 of a separate wing l2, l4 and in rolling contact with the track 24 for pivotally moving each wingl2, 14 between their first and second positions in response to movement of thepinions 27, 29 on rollers 26, 28 in response to reciprocal movement of the base 2. By so constructing the apparatus, the blank 6 is 1 moved by the Wings 12, 14 without exerting undue pressure on the blank 6 to move said wings between their first and second positions and thereby possible damage to the blank'6 is reduced.

It is preferred that the dimensions of the rollers 26, 28 are sized so that at the first position of the base 2, the wings 12, 14"

the first wing 12. By constructing the wings 12, 14 in this manner there is little or no lag or wasted time in the movement of the wings and the wings bring the'edge portions 30,0'f the blank 6 in overlapping relation about thegmandrel fornsub-h sequent sealing of .one portion to the';.other. In order to facilitate sealing of the edge portions 30 of the blank 6, it is preferred that at the second position of the wings l2, 14, the second end portions 18 of the wings 12, 14 are spaced a distance one from the other and that a sealing means 32 be provided adjacent the overlapping blank edge portions 30 for contacting and sealing edges of the blank 6 onto the other upon arrival of the wings l2, 14 at their second position and thereafter releasing the blank 6. The sealing means 32 can be, for example, a heating element where thermoplastic blanks are used, an adhesive-applying apparatus for paperboard blanks, and of other construction known in the art.

By providing wrapping wings 12, 14 which are moved about the mandrel by and relative to movement of the base 2, the blanks are wrapped about the mandrel with the danger of mal-' formed containers or damaged blanks being reduced. Examples of a type of machine upon which the wrapping apparatus of this invention can be used can be found in US. Pat. No. 3,416,412.

In the operation of this apparatus, a blank 6 is inserted into its holding means 10 positioned between the mandrel 4and the wrapping apparatus. Upon receipt of a signal delivered to the wrapping apparatus from the associated machinery, movement of the base 2 from the first toward the second position is initiated. A holding means 10 preferably is triggered by this initial, movement of the base 2 to move into contact with a portion of the blank 6 and urge the blank 6 against the mandrel 4.

As the base 2 moves toward the mandrel 4, the face 8 of the base 2 urges the blank. 6 about the mandrel 4. Simultaneously, the rollers 26, 28 are being rotated by contact with the track 24 during movement of the base 2 which causes the wings l2, 14 to be pivoted toward their second position (as shown in FIG. 2) which, in turn, urges the blank 6 about the mandrel 4.

At the second position of the wings 12, 14 and the base 2, the portions 30 of the blank 6 are sealed one to the other. The apparatus of this invention is thereafter returned to the first position to await reception of a new signal to initiate a new cycle. Other modifications and alterations of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing discussion and accompanying drawing, and it should be understood that this invention is not to be unduly limited thereto.

What I claim is:

1. An apparatus for wrapping blanks around a mandrel positioned adjacent said apparatus, comprising:

a base having a face having a concave configuration for receiving a portion of the mandrel and being movable between a first position at which the concave face is spaced from the mandrel and an intervening blank posi tioned adjacent said concave face and a second position at which portions of the blank and the mandrel are within the concave face;

means for moving the base relative to said mandrel between the first and second positions; first and second wings each having first and second end portions with each wing being pivotally attached at the first end portion to a separate end of the concave face of the base and movable between a first position at which each wing is spaced from the mandrel and the intervening blank and a second position at which each wing is forcefully urging'a portion of the blank against a portion of the mandrel; and

means for moving the first and second wings between the first and second positions at a rate relative to and in response to, movement of the base between the first and second positions.

2. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, further including a track extending along the direction of movement of the base;

first and second rollers each fixedly attached at the axis to a first end portion of a separate wing and in rolling contact with the track for pivotally moving each wing between the first and second positions in response to movement of the rollers in response to reciprocal movement of the base.

3. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 2, wherein the dimensions of the rollers are sized so that at the first position of the base the wings are at their first position and at the second position of the base the wings are at their second position.

4. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein portions of the first wing at the first position are spaced at greater distance from the mandrel than the corresponding portion of the second wing and the second wing reaches the second position before the first wing for placing the blank in overlapping relation about the mandrel.

S. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, further including a holding means contacting and urging the blank against the mandrel upon initiation of movement of the base from the first toward the second position and releasing the blank upon initiation of movement of the base from the second toward the first position.

6. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein at the second position of the wings the second end portion of the wings are spaced a distanceone from the other.

7. An apparatus, as set forth in claim I, further including a sealing means for contacting and sealing edge portions of the blank one to the other upon arrival of the wings at theirsecond position and thereafter releasing the blank.

8. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, further includinga rack extending along the direction of movement of the base;

first and second pinion gears each fixedly attached at the axis to a first end portion of a separate wing and in rolling contact with the rack for pivotally moving each wing between the first and second positions in response to movement of the pinion gears in response to reciprocal movement of the base.

9. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 8, wherein the dimensions of the pinion gears are sized so that at the first position of the base the wings are at their first position and at the second position of the base the wings are at their second position. 

1. An apparatus for wrapping blanks around a mandrel positioned adjacent said apparatus, comprising: a base having a face having a concave configuration for receiving a portion of the mandrel and being movable between a first position at which the concave face is spaced from the mandrel and an intervening blank positioned adjacent said concave face and a second position at which portions of the blank and the mandrel are within the concave face; means for moving the base relative to said mandrel between the first and second positions; first and second wings each having first and second end portions with each wing being pivotally attached at the first end portion to a separate end of the concave face of the base and movable between a first position at which each wing is spaced from the mandrel and the intervening blank and a second position at which each wing is forcefully urging a portion of the blank against a portion of the mandrel; and means for moving the first and second wings between the first and second positions at a rate relative to and in response to, movement of the base between the first and second positions.
 2. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, further including a track extending along the direction of movement of the base; first and second rollers each fixedly attached at the axis to a first end portion of a separate wing and in rolling contact with the track for pivotally moving each wing between the first and second positions in response to movement of the rollers in response to reciprocal movement of the base.
 3. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 2, wherein the dimensions of the rollers are sized so that at the first position of the base the wings are at their first position and at the second position of the base the wings are at their second position.
 4. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein portions of the first wing at the first position are spaced a greater distance from the mandrel than the corresponding portion of the second wing and the second wing reaches the second position before the first wing for placing the blank in overlapping relation about the mandrel.
 5. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, further including a holding means contacting and urging the blank against the mandrel upon initiation of movement of the base from the first toward the second position and releasing the blank upon initiation of movement of the base from the second toward the first position.
 6. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein at the second position of the wings the second end portion of the wings are spaced a distance one from the other.
 7. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, further including a sealing means for contacting and sealing edge portions of the blank one to the other upon arrival of the wings at their second position and thereafter releasing the blank.
 8. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, further including a rack extending along the direction of movement of the base; first and second pinion gears each fixedly attached at the axis to a first end portion of a separate wing and in rolling contact with the rack for pivotally moving each wing between the first and second positions in response to movement of the pinion gears in response to reciprocal movement of the base.
 9. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 8, wherein the dimensions of the pinion gears are sized so that at the first position of the base the wings are at their first position and at the second position of the base the wings are at their second position. 